562 BRITISH BIRDS. 



The Mallard is a very early breeder ; in spite of his gluttony his sexual 

 instincts are very strong. He rejoins his mate soon after his wedding- 

 dress is assumed, and begins to pay her attentions long before the gloss 

 has begun to fade from his nuptial plumes. Adults are generally re- 

 paired, presumably with their old mates, before the new year comes in, 

 sometimes as early as November, but the young do not pair until spring. 

 The flocks of the more southerly breeding birds break up early or late in 

 March, according to the season. In North Germany eggs may be found 

 about the middle of April, in this country from the third week in March 

 onwards, but in Finland not before the beginning of June. The nest is 

 seldom placed close to water. Near Halberstadt I have found it in the 

 midst of a large field of rye at least a mile from water, and in the Dukcrics, 

 in Nottinghamshire, it is often in the middle of the forest. In the deer- 

 park near Copenhagen I have seen a Mallard fly from her eggs in an old 

 Crow's nest in an oak tree; and Mr. John H. Wilmore informs mc that a 

 Wild Duck laid her eggs in a Rook's nest about four miles from Stockbridge, 

 twenty-five yards from a river, and about thirty feet from the ground. On 

 the bogs near Craig Park in Galway the nests were mostly placed under 

 the shelter of the perpendicular wall of turf which had been cut away 

 for fuel on the east side, so that they were protected from the prevailing 

 westerly gales. The nest is occasionally found in hollow tree-stumps, and 

 sometimes on the tops of pollard willows. When on the ground it is a 

 carelessly constructed mass of dead grass and leaves, deep and carefully 

 concealed amongst long grass or under bushes. The eggs vary in number 

 from eight to twelve, and it is said that as many as sixteen are occasionally 

 found. As soon as the duck begins to sit, she plucks down from her body, 

 which soon accumulates into a mass sufficient to keep the eggs warm when she 

 leaves them to feed. She seldom forsakes the nest at night, and apparently 

 tries to slip off" the eggs as quietly as possible, especially before the full 

 clutch is laid ; but the drake generally finds her out and not unfrequently 

 has to defend her from the unwelcome attentions of his rivals. The eggs 

 vary in colour from greenish buff" to pale bi;ffish green, in length from 2*5 

 to 22 inch, and in breadth from 1*7 to 1*5 inch. Small examples are very 

 liable to be mistaken for eggs of the Pintail and Long-tailed Duck; but 

 the down is much larger than that of the Long-tailed Duck and has very 

 inconspicuous white tips, whilst that of the Pintail has conspicuous white 

 tips ; it is almost neutral grey in colour, occasionally with a slight tinge 

 of brown. 



Hume says that in India, where in winter it is by far the commonest 

 Duck, the Mallard is very tame, allowing the sportsman to drift down to 

 within forty yards of them in his little boat, as they sit in small parties 

 asleep at the water's edge. Where they are frequently shot at they soon 

 become more wary. The native often catches them by entering the pool 



